NBA Playoffs Predictions & Picks: Conference Finals & NBA Finals Approaching Fast
Jonathan Macri and Adam Taylor are back once again with their weekly complete breakdown of everything we're seeing across the league and trends to watch. They break down each series and let us know how they think they're going to play out going forward.
Every week, Jonathan and Adam join us on OddsChecker to talk NBA Playoffs as only they can. There is no better place on the internet to get in-depth NBA insight, information and stats to help you win your bets.
Jonathan Macri and Adam Taylor's NBA Playoffs Predictions
NBA Playoff Predictions & Trends
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Atlanta Hawks
Philadelphia leads series, 2-1
It seems like Atlanta’s fast start in Game 1 was a long time ago. You could make an argument that the first quarter of that game was the best Atlanta has looked all series and it’s been downhill since. The Hawks, like most teams, have absolutely no answer for Joel Embiid. They’ve tried double teaming him, triple teaming him, trapping him, playing off, getting in his face and none of it has been effective. To make matters worse, Ben Simmons has done a good job making life difficult for Trae Young. If they don’t win Monday night in Atlanta, we could be on our way to a gentlemen’s sweep this week.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics
Brooklyn leads series, 2-1
Sunday’s Game 4 matchup in this series. If the Bucks can win at home they’ve got a shot at upsetting the NBA Championship favorite Brooklyn Nets. If not, it could easily be a five-game series. Game 3 was by far Milwaukee’s best defensive performance of the series as they held Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving largely in check. The Nets may get Jeff Green back for Game 4, who has been an important part of this team, but James Harden is expected to miss it
Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Utah leads series, 2-1
LA needed a convincing win in Game 3 in order to show some signs of life in this series. They got it thanks to big-time performances from Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Utah doesn’t have any absolute standout stars, but the Jazz are truly greater than the sum of their parts. The Western Conference’s No. 1 seed dominated LA in Games 1 and 2 before falling Flat in Game 3 in Los Angeles. They need to steal one in LA to grasp the series. Letting Kawhi Leonard hang around is a recipe for disaster.
Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets
Phoenix leads the series, 3-0
By the time you read this, this series may very well be over already. You can’t help but feel bad for MVP Nikola Jokic watching this series. There is also a sense of “What If?”, thinking about the type of series we’d have here is Jamal Murray was able to play. Regardless, the Nuggets are no match for Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns. The frontcourt of Denver can’t make up for the lack of solid play in the backcourt and as such, Phoenix is running away with this series. A sweep may be in the cards on Sunday.
NBA Championship Odds
Brooklyn Nets +130
Utah Jazz +360
Phoenix Suns +500
Philadelphia 76ers +800
Los Angeles Clippers +1000
Milwaukee Bucks +1200
Atlanta Hawks +10000
Denver Nuggets +40000